RAFA BENITEZ admits the pressure as Liverpool FC manager will only ease once he wins the championship.

Benitez’s Anfield tenure has attracted increasing criticism the longer he fails to end a title drought that stretches back to 1990.

Having secured runners-up spot 12 months ago, Liverpool FC last week concluded a hugely disappointing campaign in which they finished seventh, their lowest final Premier League placing in more than a decade.

Despite speculation linking him with an imminent departure, Benitez is keen to stay at Anfield and is awaiting a third meeting with chairman Martin Broughton to discuss the future direction of the club.

But the Spaniard concedes he will remain under intense scrutiny until he claims Liverpool’s 19th championship crown.

“It is impossible to ignore the pressure (of being a manager) until you have won the league title,” said Benitez.

“You know you have a responsibility, there are demands on you and you have to get used to it. Every week you have to pass a test.

“As a manager you have to try to be respectful, correct, sometimes positive, other times not so much.

“A coach has to try to protect his players so that they can express themselves. When things go badly, it is the manager’s responsibility. That is normal. It is innate in football.”

Benitez continues to plan for the new season, having already secured the signature of Charlton Athletic teenager Jonjo Shelvey and closing in on a deal for highly-rated young Rangers centre-back Danny Wilson.

A free transfer move for Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic remains in the offing, although the Liverpool manager admits activity has been hampered by the forthcoming World Cup.

“Liverpool are working on our next signings,” said Benitez. “I have my ideas and I know what I want, but we have to wait, because now we have the difficulty that the World Cup always brings.”

There are likely to be a number of departures from Anfield during the transfer window as Benitez seeks to raise funds by pruning his squad.

Reports in Italy suggest Juventus are prepared to take Alberto Aquilani back to his homeland, but the player’s agent believes it would take a “very big” offer for Liverpool to entertain selling a player they bought for almost £20m from Roma barely 10 months ago.

“During the season, when he did not have ankle problems, he has always played and never had any problems, either with Benitez or with Liverpool,” said Aquilani’s agent, Franco Zavaglia.

“So they won’t part with Aquilani unless they receive very big offers.”

One player definitely on the way out is Albert Riera, who is being tracked by Stuttgart.

Liverpool did manage one sale yesterday when they agreed a £2.6m permanent deal with Athletic Bilbao for Mikel San Jose, who has spent the season on loan at the Spanish club.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed the pre-season friendly with Borussia Moenchengladbach has been put back a day to Sunday August 1 with a 2.30pm kick-off.